Liquid container

ABSTRACT

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid container that prevents a liquid substance from flowing down from the outlet by minimizing surface energy generated between the liquid substance and the outlet, and prevents leakage at a joint between the body and the guide. 
     A liquid container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a body containing a liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth and a guide connected to the mouth and having an outlet for discharging the liquid substance, wherein a first hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0109302 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 12, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid container, and more particularly, to a liquid container that prevents a liquid substance from overflowing the outlet and leaking at the joint of the body and a guide.

(b) Description of the Related Art

In general, liquid containers are composed of a body containing a liquid substance and a guide allowing the liquid substance to be discharged from the body to desired objects, if needed. Further, the guide has an outlet for finally discharging the liquid substance outside from the body.

When the liquid substance is discharged from a liquid container, the liquid substance flows down along the outer wall of the outlet by means of large surface energy, that is, large interaction between the liquid substance and the guide. The greater the viscosity of the liquid substance, the more the liquid substance flows down. Accordingly, the liquid substance is lost and the portion around the guide is contaminated.

In a liquid container, the end portion of the guide is rounded to prevent the liquid substance from flowing down from the outlet. The liquid container with the rounded outlet can partially prevent the liquid substance from flowing down, but cannot basically prevent it.

Further, the liquid container is formed by combining a body containing a liquid substance with the guide and a seal member is provided at the joint, but it may cause leakage of the liquid substance. The leakage between the body and the guide causes loss of the liquid substance, and economic loss may increase when the liquid substance is expensive.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a liquid container having advantages of preventing a liquid substance from flowing down at the outlet by minimizing the surface energy generated between the liquid substance and the outlet, and preventing leakage at the joint of the body and the guide.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid container including: a body containing a liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth; and a guide connected to the mouth and having an outlet for discharging the liquid substance, wherein a first hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the outlet.

The first hydrophobic layer may be integrally connected to the inner surface, the end portion, and the outer surface of the outlet.

A second hydrophobic layer may be formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the mouth.

The second hydrophobic layer may be integrally connected to the inner surface, the end portion, and the outer surface of the mouth.

A third hydrophobic layer may be formed by hydrophobic treatment on the inner surface of the body.

The guide may include: an outlet member forming the outlet and having a flange at a portion closely contacting the mouth; a cap integrally connected to a side of the outlet member to open and close the outlet; and a connector thread-fastened to the mouth, with a protrusion held by the flange, in which a first hydrophobic layer is further formed on the inner surface of the flange contacting the mouth and a second hydrophobic layer is further formed at the end portion of the mouth.

The connector may further form a fourth hydrophobic layer on the inner surface to be in close contact with the sides of the first hydrophobic layer of the flange and the second hydrophobic layer of the mouth.

The hydrophobic treatment may form a hydrophobic layer on a corresponding surface by one of thermal-spraying a hydrophobic substance on a corresponding surface and immersing a corresponding surface into molten metal with a hydrophobic substance and then taking out the corresponding surface.

The hydrophobic layer may be made of one of Teflon, paraffin, and wax. The hydrophobic treatment may form a hydrophobic layer on a corresponding surface by treating a silicon-based or fluorine-based solution after forming an oxide film on the corresponding surface.

The hydrophobic treatment may form a hydrophobic layer on a corresponding surface by one of thermal spraying, etching by sputtering, and variation of a surface molecular structure by plasma.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid container containing a liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth, and a hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the mouth.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid container including: a body containing a liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth; and an outlet member having an outlet connected to the mouth to discharge the liquid substance, wherein a hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of at least one of the mouth and the outlet.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to minimize surface energy and reduce interaction between the liquid substance and the outlet surface by hydrophobic-surface treating the outlet, the guide, the body, and the joint of the body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid substance from flowing down from the outlet and leakage at the joint of the body. Further, it is possible to keep the outlet, the guide, the body, and the joint of the body clean and improve the aesthetic appearance, by means of a self-cleaning effect of the surface-treated portion. Further, it is possible to minimize loss of a liquid substance, that is, minimize economic loss, when the liquid substance is expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a liquid container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the parts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view enlarging the portion A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view enlarging a hydrophobic layer.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a hydrophobic-treated surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a liquid container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the parts shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view enlarging the portion A of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a liquid container 2 according to the exemplary embodiment includes a body 10 containing a liquid substance and discharging it through a mouth 11, and a guide 20 connected to the mouth 11 of the body 10 to discharge the liquid substance out of the body 10.

The body 10 may be made of a various materials, such as glass or a synthetic resin, with various colors in accordance with the liquid substance to prevent the substance from deteriorating and keep it for a long period of time. The substance can be poured into and discharged out of the body 10 through the mouth 11 formed at one side.

The guide 20 allows the substance in the body 10 to be smoothly discharged and prevents the substance from flowing down along the outer surface of the body 10 through the guide when discharging the substance.

Meanwhile, the guide 20 necessarily provides a connection structure with the mouth 11 of the body 10 and prevents the substance from leaking at a joint C with the body 10.

The body 10 and the guide 20 that are used in the exemplary embodiment may be bodies and guides for containing various liquid substances that are well known in the art, but FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplified for convenience.

The joint C between the body 10 and the guide 20 may be formed or not, in accordance with the liquid container. When the guide 20 is not used, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be used at the mouth 11 of the body 10 to prevent the liquid substance from flowing down. That is, a hydrophobic layer may be formed by hydrophobically treating the surface of the mouth.

When the guide 20 is used, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention prevents the liquid substance from flowing down from an outlet 21 of the guide 20 and the liquid substance from leaking at the joint C. The hydrophobic layer may be formed by hydrophobically treating the surface of the outlet 21 of the guide 20 and the surface of the joint C.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outlet 21 has a first hydrophobic layer 31 that is hydrophobically treated on the surface. In more detail, the first hydrophobic layer 31 is integrally connected to an inner surface 211, an end portion 212, and an outer surface 213 of the outlet 21, and thereby the entire outlet 21 has hydrophobicity. The first hydrophobic layer 31 prevents the liquid substance from flowing down from the outlet 21 by minimizing the surface energy generated between the outlet 21 and the liquid substance when discharging the liquid substance through the outlet 21.

The mouth 11 includes a second hydrophobic layer 32 that is hydrophobically treated on the surface. The second hydrophobic layer 32 is integrally connected to an inner surface 111, an end portion 112, and an outer surface 113 of the mouth 11, and thereby the entire mouth 11 has hydrophobicity. The second hydrophobic layer 32 prevents the liquid substance from flowing down or leaking at the mouth 11 by minimizing surface energy generated between the mouth 11 and the liquid substance when discharging the liquid substance from the mouth 11 to the outlet 21.

In the body 10, a third hydrophobic layer 33 may be formed by hydrophobically treating the inner surface defining the space containing the liquid substance, in addition to the mouth 11. The third hydrophobic layer 33 is connected to the second hydrophobic layer 32. The third hydrophobic layer 33 can prevent the liquid substance from not being used and wasted, by preventing the substance from adhering to the inner surface of the container 10.

The guide 20 includes an outlet member 23 forming the outlet 21 and having a flange 22 at a portion closely contacting the mouth 11, a cap 24 integrally connected to one side of the outlet member 23 to open and close the outlet 21, and a connector 26 thread-fastened to the mouth 11, with a protrusion 25 held by the flange 22.

The guide 20 further forms the first hydrophobic layer 31 on the inner surface of the flange 22 contacting each other and the second hydrophobic layer 32 at the end portion 112 of the mouth 11. The first hydrophobic layer 31 of the flange 22 and the second hydrophobic layer 32 at the end portion 112 of the mouth 11 stop the liquid substance from leaking at the joint between the body 10 and the guide 20.

Further, the connector 26 forms a fourth hydrophobic layer 34 on the inner surface to be in close contact with the sides of the first hydrophobic layer 31 of the flange contacting it and the second hydrophobic layer 32. The fourth hydrophobic layer 34 can further prevent the liquid substance from leaking at the joint between the body 10 and the guide 20, together with the first hydrophobic layer 31 of the flange 22 and the second hydrophobic layer 32 of the end portion 112.

The first, second, third, and fourth hydrophobic layers 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be formed on the corresponding surfaces by various hydrophobic treatments. For example, the first, second, third, and fourth hydrophobic layers 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be formed on the corresponding surfaces by thermal-spraying a hydrophobic substance on the corresponding surfaces, or immersing the corresponding surfaces into molten metal with a hydrophobic substance and the taking them out.

The first, second, third, and fourth hydrophobic layers 31, 32, 33, and 34 that are formed by hydrophobic treatments may be made of Teflon, paraffin, or wax. Since the Teflon is chemically stable, it can be used for daily necessities, and has better durability and mechanical properties than the paraffin or the wax.

According to another example, the first, second, third, and fourth hydrophobic layers 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be formed on the corresponding surfaces by forming an oxide film on the corresponding surfaces and treating with a silicon-based or fluorine-based solution. This is called silane coating, and is also called a SAM (self-assembled monolayer).

According to another example, the first, second, third, and fourth hydrophobic layers 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be formed on the corresponding surfaces by thermal spraying, etching by sputtering, or variation of the surface molecular structure by plasma.

The hydrophobic treatment on the corresponding surface may be achieved in various methods and can strengthen hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic substances, that is, reduce the surface energy. It is possible to increase the hydrophobic effect by applying a plurality of hydrophobic treatment methods. The surface energy can be reduced by the hydrophobic treatment on the corresponding surface and adhesion of foreign substances can be reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view enlarging the hydrophobic layer. Referring to FIG. 4, it has been known that a reduction of surface energy increases hydrophobicity of a surface, and wettability of the surface can be expressed by a contact angle θ, as shown in Equation 1 (Young's equation).

(Equation 1)

cosθ=(γ_(SV)−γ_(SL))/γ_(LV)

wherein, γ_(SV), γ_(SL), and γ_(LV) are free energy per unit area at the solid-gas, solid-liquid, and liquid-gas interfaces, respectively.

Further, Cassie's law proposes Equation 2 for acquiring a contact angle θ′ at a composite surface having roughness.

(Equation 2)

cos θ′=f cos θ+(1−f) cos 180°=f cos θ+f−1

Herein, f (wetted solid surface area fraction) is Σα/Σ(α+b). The contact angle of water is 180° in the atmosphere, while according to Johnson and Dettre, as the roughness factors increase above predetermined values, the contact angle continuously increases but the hysteresis of the contact angle decreases. Further, an increase of air fraction at the solid-liquid interface decreases the contact angle hysteresis and the hydrophobicity increases as in Cassie's hydrophobic model (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a hydrophobic-treated surface. Referring to FIG. 5, when a surface of PTFE is hydrophobically treated by SAM and plasma treatment, the structure of the surface is changed to have high hydrophobicity.

As described above, when the surface hydrophobic treatment that gives hydrophobicity to the surface of an object, that is, the corresponding surface is applied to the outlet 21 and the joint C of the liquid container 2, the surface energy is reduced at the outlet 21 and the joint C, and the interaction with the liquid substance is reduced.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid substance from flowing down along the outer wall from the outlet 21 or leaking through the joint C, such that the entire liquid substance is discharged without adhering to the surface of the outlet 21.

Therefore, the loss of substance can be minimized and the portion around the outlet 21 where dust and foreign substances easily adhere can be kept clean by an additional self-cleaning effect due to the hydrophobic treatment of the surface, and the liquid container 2 can be easily reused.

Further, the liquid container 2 of an exemplary embodiment can be used for containers that store expensive liquid. For example, users wipe expensive wine flowing down along the outer wall of the outlet of a wine bottle with a napkin when pouring the wine. When the surface of the outlet of the wine bottle is hydrophically treated, it is not needed to wipe the wine flowing down and it is possible to reduce the loss of wine.

For example, the liquid container 2 according to the exemplary embodiment may be used for liquid containers that contain nanomaterials, biomaterials (including blood), or reagents, of which the price per unit weight is very high. In this case, when the surface of the outlet is hydrophobically treated, it is possible to considerably reduce the economic burden due to loss of substance.

In particular, in liquid containers containing expensive liquids, when the entire inside of the body that is in contact with the liquid substance is hydrophobically treated, the substance can be completely discharged without leaving any on the inner surface of the body, such that economic loss is reduced.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A liquid container, comprising: a body containing a liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth; and a guide connected to the mouth and having an outlet for discharging the liquid substance, wherein a first hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the outlet.
 2. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the first hydrophobic layer is integrally connected to the inner surface, the end portion, and the outer surface of the outlet.
 3. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein a second hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the mouth.
 4. The liquid container of claim 3, wherein the second hydrophobic layer is integrally connected to the inner surface, the end portion, and the outer surface of the mouth.
 5. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein a third hydrophobic layer formed by hydrophobic treatment on the inner surface of the body.
 6. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises: an outlet member forming the outlet and having a flange at a portion closely contacting the mouth; a cap integrally connected to a side of the outlet member to open and close the outlet; and a connector thread-fastened to the mouth, with a protrusion held by the flange, wherein a first hydrophobic layer is further formed on the inner surface of the flange contacting the mouth and a second hydrophobic layer is further formed at the end portion of the mouth.
 7. The liquid container of claim 6, wherein the connector further forms a fourth hydrophobic layer on the inner surface to be in close contact with the sides of the first hydrophobic layer of the flange and the second hydrophobic layer of the mouth.
 8. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic treatment forms a hydrophobic layer on a corresponding surface by one of thermal-spraying a hydrophobic substance on a corresponding surface and immersing a corresponding surface into molten metal with a hydrophobic substance and then taking out the corresponding surface.
 9. The liquid container of claim 8, wherein the hydrophobic layer is made of one of Teflon, paraffin, and wax.
 10. The liquid container of 1, wherein the hydrophobic treatment forms a hydrophobic layer on a corresponding surface by treating a silicon-based or fluorine-based solution after forming an oxide film on the corresponding surface.
 11. The liquid container of claims 1, wherein the hydrophobic treatment forms a hydrophobic layer on a corresponding surface by one of thermal spraying, etching by sputtering, and variation of a surface molecular structure by plasma.
 12. A liquid container containing liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth, wherein a hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of the mouth.
 13. A liquid container comprising: a body containing a liquid substance and discharging the liquid substance through a mouth; and an outlet member having an outlet connected to the mouth to discharge the liquid substance, wherein a hydrophobic layer is formed by hydrophobic treatment on the surface of at least one of the mouth and the outlet. 